On the CBS Emmy Award-winning sitcom “The Big Bang Theory,” Kunal Nayyar entertains more than 19 million viewers weekly in his role as Dr. Raj Koothrappali.

On Thursday, Oct. 8, several hundred of those 19 million viewers will get to experience Nayyar’s humor up close and personal.

Nayyar, an actor and author of the new memoir “Yes, My Accent Is Real: And Some Other Things I Haven’t Told You,” will discuss his career when he kicks off the 2015-16 Speaker Series at Penn State Behrend. His presentation -- “From New Delhi to Hollywood: Navigating Life Through Humility” -- begins at 7:30 p.m. in Junker Center and is free and open to the public. To reserve a free ticket, visit psbactivities.ticketleap.com/nayyar/.

On “The Big Bang Theory,” Raj entertains fans with his awkward moments and fun personality quirks. According to Nayyar, some of these quirks are extensions of his own personality.

“I think I’m sort of easily excitable like Raj. I get excited over things. And I’m kind of (a jerk) to my friends. Like, I try to make fun of everything around me sort of like Raj does,” Nayyar said in a 2013 interview with The TV Addict. “I really enjoy playing him just because it’s really fun to play a character that is not malicious. He’s a terrible liar and he really loves his friends. So it’s really fun.”

Nayyar has also lent his voice to several animated projects including “Family Guy,” “Glenn Martin DDS” and “Ice Age: Continental Drift.” In 2013, he narrated and co-produced the documentary “Beyond all Boundaries,” which examines slices of the life of the average Indian cricket fan. His memoir was released earlier this month.

Nayyar’s appearance at Penn State Behrend is made possible by its Student Activity Fee, the Division of Student Affairs and the Harriet Behrend Ninow Memorial Lecture Series Fund. For additional information, contact the Office of Student Activities at 814-898-6171.

Kunal Nayyar, known for his role as Dr. Raj Koothrappali on the CBS sitcom "The Big Bang Theory," will open the Speaker Series Thursday, Oct. 8, at Penn State Behrend. His presentation – “From New Delhi to Hollywood: Navigating Life Through Humility” – begins at 7:30 p.m. in Junker Center and is free and open to the public.